The Land: Nabulsi Soap

'The Land' is made by the Women's Soap Cooperative of Beita, just south of Nablus. The newest of the Nablus soap brands, al-Ard are true gems. Since they work in relatively small batches and are connected with many local small producers, their olive oil is often among the very best. The cooperative's equipment is all stainless steel and run electrically, compared with other brands which use gas or wood burning furnaces to cook their soap. Rather than hand stamping their bars, the Co-op uses a press machine that makes a deep and visible imprint. Al-Ard's main market is in northern Palestine, in the areas around Nazareth and Jenin.